Why Zooey Deschanel Is Facing Heat for Her ‘Nepotism’ Comments [Video]

Zooey Deschanel doesn’t consider herself a “nepo baby,” despite her family’s success in Hollywood. The New Girl star, 44, has been getting heat online after the comments she made about her own career in show business as it relates to those of her parents, Caleb and Mary Jo Deschanel. 

Caleb, 79, is a six-time Academy Award-nominated cinematographer, best known for his work on movies like The Natural, Fly Away Home, The Patriot, The Passion of the Christ and 2019’s The Lion King. Mary Jo, meanwhile, is an actress – the 78-year-old is best known for her role on Twin Peaks but also appeared in titles including The Right Stuff, My Sister’s Keeper and Ruby Sparks.

Despite that, Zooey said on a recent episode of The School of Greatness podcastthat she rejects the term “nepo baby” as it refers to herself. “It’s funny because people will be like, ‘Nepotism!’ No, my dad’s …